Özgür Öğret

Özgür Öğret is a Turkish freelance journalist and CPJ’s Turkey representative. He was lead researcher for the 2012 CPJ special report, "Turkey's Press Freedom Crisis."

2019

Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of March 10, 2019

March 14, 2019 2:04 PM ET

Court convicts Gün Printing House owner and staff An Istanbul court on March 11 convicted seven employees of the Gün Printing House, including the owner, Kasım Zengin, of anti-state charges and sentenced them to prison, the pro-Kurdish Mezopatamya News Agency reported. The court acquitted 15 other employees who were...

Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of March 3, 2019

March 7, 2019 12:57 PM ET

Journalist and former CHP politician sentenced An Istanbul court on March 1 convicted Eren Erdem, the former chief editor for the defunct daily Karşı and a former parliamentary deputy in the main opposition party CHP, of "knowingly and willingly helping a [terrorist] organization without being involved in the organization's hierarchical...

Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of February 24, 2019

February 28, 2019 12:45 PM ET

RSF Turkey representative in court Erol Önderoğlu, the Turkey representative for the press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF), was in court in Istanbul on February 25 alongside Şebnem Korur Fincancı, a columnist for the leftist daily Evrensel and president of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey, and Ahmet...

Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of February 17, 2019

February 21, 2019 12:48 PM ET

Appeals court upholds Cumhuriyet verdict An Istanbul appeals court on February 19 upheld the terrorism-related convictions of staff from the daily Cumhuriyet who were earlier sentenced to five years or less in prison, according to reports. CPJ condemned the decision. The decision means that at least six defendants, including...

Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of February 10

February 14, 2019 2:41 PM ET

Police detain two journalists in separate raids Police on February 12 detained Salih Turan, a freelance journalist who formerly worked for the U.S. government-funded broadcaster Voice of America and the Kurdish service of the Russian-state-funded outlet Sputnik, on accusations of "making propaganda of a [terrorist] organization" on social media...

Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of February 2, 2019

February 7, 2019 1:36 PM ET

Court convicts parliamentary deputy and editor Barış Yarkadaş An Istanbul court on February 7 convicted Barış Yarkadaş, the parliamentary deputy for the main opposition party CHP and former chief editor of the online newspaper Gerçek Gündem, of "violating the secrecy of private life" and handed him a suspended 10-month...

Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of January 28, 2019

January 31, 2019 2:55 PM ET

Düzkan starts jail term for Özgür Gündem campaignJournalist Ayşe Düzkan started serving an 18-month prison sentence in Bakırköy Women's Prison in Istanbul on January 24 over her participation in a solidarity campaign with the daily newspaper Özgür Gündem, the independent news website Bianet reported. A court sentenced Düzkan in...

Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week beginning January 20, 2019

January 24, 2019 1:25 PM ET

Jailed journalist Nazlı Ilıcak sentenced to extra 5-year prison term An Istanbul court on January 22 sentenced veteran journalist Nazlı Ilıcak to five years and 10 months in prison for "exposing secret documents," the news website Diken reported. Ilıcak, who worked most recently with shuttered outlets Can Erzincan TV...

Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of January 13, 2019

January 17, 2019 1:18 PM ET

Turkey deports Dutch journalist Authorities on January 17 deported Ans Boersma, a Dutch freelance journalist based in Istanbul, BBC Turkish reported. The journalist was taken into custody the day before, when she tried to renew her residence permit at the Foreigners' Office in Istanbul. She was detained overnight at...

Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of January 7, 2019

January 10, 2019 1:57 PM ET

Erdoğan says Turkish media is 'more democratic' In a message to mark Working Journalists' Day--a local press freedom day on January 10--Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, "The reforms actualized in the past 16 years have enabled the Turkish press to be richer, diverse, and meet a more democratic...